What is dyslexia ?

The following is the research definition of dyslexia used by the National Institutes of Health and the International Dyslexia Association (Nov. 12, 2002):

"Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.

These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge."

Dyslexia is not an indicator of low intelligence. In fact, people with dyslexia posses at least average intelligence, and most often surpass such a standard.

Dyslexia also known as a specific learning difficulty that is commonly associated with reading and writing. Dyslexia primarily affects the way that we process information. This means that children with dyslexia may have difficulty processing things that they are seeing or hearing, and this can make skills literacy skills like reading and writing feel more difficult.

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About 5% to 10% of Americans have some symptoms of dyslexia, such as slow reading, trouble spelling, or mixing up words. Adults can have this learning disorder, as well. Some people are diagnosed early in life. Others don't realize they have dyslexia until they get older.

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Kids with dyslexia often have normal vision and are just as smart as their peers. But they struggle more in school because it takes them longer to read. Trouble processing words can also make it hard to spell, write, and speak clearly.